Hanoi (VNA) - The Hanoi People’s Court will open a first-instance trial on September 8 for former Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Office Pham Thai Ha and 28 others charged in a sweeping corruption case linked to the Thuan An Group.

The charges include “violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences”, “abusing position and power while performing duty,” and “abusing power to influence others for personal gain”.

To prepare for the trial, the court has summoned five civil plaintiffs, including the project management boards for investment and construction of traffic works of former Tuyen Quang province, Quang Ninh province, and Hanoi; the project management board for investment and construction of transport and agriculture works of former Bac Giang province; the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam under the Ministry of Construction.

Representatives of the Thuan An Group, joint contractors, and other individuals and organisations involved in remedying the consequences have also been summoned as parties with related rights and obligations.

Among the defendants, 27 are accused of “violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences” under Article 222, Clause 3 of the Penal Code, with five leaders of the Thuan An Group, including Nguyen Duy Hung, former Chairman of the Board, and Tran Anh Quang, former General Director.

Other defendants are former officials from the Project Management Boards of former Bac Giang and Tuyen Quang provinces, Quang Ninh province and Hanoi, as well as several related companies.

Particularly, Le O Pich, former Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of former Bac Giang province and former Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development was charged for abusing of position and power while performing official duties.

Meanwhile, Pham Thai Ha, former Vice Chairman of the NA Office was indicted for abusing of power to influence others for personal gain.

According to the indictment, Nguyen Duy Hung used his influence to secure contracts for the Thuan An Group in major infrastructure projects across former Bac Giang and Tuyen Quang provinces, Quang Ninh province and Hanoi, and under the Ministry of Transport.

The projects include Dong Viet Bridge, Tuyen Quang–Phu Tho Expressway (Package 26), Ha Long–Dong Trieu riverside road, Vinh Tuy Bridge Phase 2, and National Highway 14E (Packages XD01, XD02).

൩ The scheme caused an estimated 120 billion VND (over 4.5 million USD) in losses to State funds. Procuracy emphasised that the defendants' actions undermined public procurement integrity and eroded trust in Government institutions. Disciplinary and criminal consequences have followed at both local and national levels./.